5 Types Of Bets In Craps

I remember the first time I ever encountered craps at a casino in Las Vegas. I was drawn over to it by the hooting, howling, and high fives going on around the table. That ancient human trait of curiosity drew me toward it like a moth to a flame. I had to know what was getting everyone so excited.

• Place Bet In Craps
• What Are The Bets In Craps

Learn how to play hardway bets and how and when they pay off in the game of craps in this free video series that will have you playing and winning. The Field betting areas is a big section on the craps table. A bet placed on the field wins if the next roll is a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11. If the next roll is a 3, 4, 9 or 11 you win even money. If a 2 or a 12 is rolled you win 2 to 1. There are four possible hardways bets (2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5). Hardways bets can be made at any time and win if the selected hardway rolls before a 7. The bet loses if a 7 is rolled or if the total. But if you run a craps simulation, you’ll find that in the long run, the come bet + odds is by far a better bet. Both place bets and come bets+odds are negative exception bets; however, the come. Craps is a dice game in which the players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other (playing 'street craps') or a bank (playing 'casino craps', also known as 'table craps', or often just 'craps').

I meandered over, watched for a few minutes, and left utterly baffled by what I had just seen. I was none the wiser about craps, and in fact, I left the table that night knowing less about it than I did before I’d gone over. Craps does that to people in the beginning, and understanding craps bets, rules, and etiquette is an entire discipline which takes a while to master.

I couldn’t possibly teach you everything there is to know about craps in one blog post. However, I can break down the five wildest bets you can make and show you the numbers behind them. So, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

What Are the Five Wildest Bets in Craps?

Before we get to breaking the bets down, let’s first identify what the wildest bets you can make in craps are. That starts by defining what I mean by wild.

For me, the wildest bets are those which are most improbable and hence have the biggest potential payouts. I certainly wouldn’t call the ‘Pass Line’ bet wild, since it has a 1:1 payout and a house edge of just 1.41%.

So, assuming you agree with my definition, here are the five wildest bets you can make when playing craps. I’ve ranked these in order of payout starting with the highest.

• 2 craps or 12 craps
• 3 craps or 11
• 6 or 8 (Hardways)
• 4 or 10 (Hardways)
• 2 or 12 (Horn Bet)

There are some bets which could have easily been on this list. For example, the ‘any craps’ bet also has a 7 to 1 payout and the same house edge as betting on 4 or 10, but I did say I was going to break down the five wildest bets, so I had to go with one of them and just run with it.

Now that you know what the five wildest bets actually are, at least according to this player, let’s break them down and study them in greater detail.

2 Craps or 12 Craps (35 to 1 Odds)

If you’re totally new to craps, you might not even know what ‘crap’ is. Well, it’s time to learn.

Craps is when 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. If this happens on the Come Out roll, the shooter is said to have ‘crapped out.’ If you’re confused by these terms, it may be an idea to check out our learn craps page as it’ll run you through the fundamentals.

Betting on 2 craps or 12 craps pays a whopping 30 to 1, putting it well within our agreed definition of a wild bet. It’s made even wilder by the ridiculous house edge – no less than 13.9%.

Yes, this is an unlikely bet, but it could turn a $10 bet into $300 in a few split seconds. That’s what wild bets are all about, right?

3 Craps or 11 (17 to 1 Odds)

This one isn’t quite as wild as betting on 2 craps or 12 craps, but it’s still in the ballpark.

This bet pays no less than 15 to 1 if lady luck is on your side. The house edge is 11.1%.

Do you see a pattern yet? The lower the house edge, the lower the payout, and vice versa.

Personally, I’d make the 2 craps or 12 craps bet over this one, but that’s just me. You’ll have to do the math for yourself and decide how you want to play it.

6 or 8 Hardways (10 to 1 Odds)

You could bet on a 6 or 8 as a place bet, meaning you just predict these numbers will come out before a 7 and leave it at that. However, 6 or 8 place bets only pay 7 to 6 – hardly what you’d call wild.

What I’m talking about here is betting on a 6 or 8 as a hardways bet, meaning you also bet on how the 6 or 8 will be formed. For example, you could bet that a 6 is formed by a 2 and a 4, via a 5 and a 1, or via two 3s.

Naturally, it’s much harder to predict this (hence it’s called a hardways bet), and so it pays much more when you get it right – a tasty 9 to 1.

The house edge on this bet is 9.09%. That’s steep and perfectly illustrates why the payout is so big. You won’t land this one often, but hey, it’ll boost your bankroll quickly if it does happen.

4 or 10 Hardways (8 to 1 Odds)

Here we have another hardways bet, meaning you won’t just have to guess the number but will have to guess how it’s formed.

Let’s look at another example to clarify things. Let’s say you want to wager on 4. It would be simple to just bet on that, but that’s a place bet, and it only pays 9 to 5. When you do it the hard way and guess whether the four will be two 2s or a 3 and a 1, the payout will increase to 7 to 1.

The house edge on this bet is even higher than the other hardways bet mentioned here. It’s 11.1%. Yikes!

Horn Bet

A horn bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 2, 3, 11, or 12. The horn bet is found in the middle of the craps table alongside the prop bets.

When you make a horn bet, you’re actually making four separate bets. That means if you bet $10 on it, you’re actually betting $2.50 on each number. If you’re betting with an odd number, such as a $5 chip, you can double up on one of the numbers.

• If 3 or 11 come up, you’ll get a 3.75 to 1 payout.
• If 2 or 12 come up, the payout will be 7.5 to 1.

Unfortunately, the horn bet is also known as the ‘suckers bet,’ so I really wouldn’t be in any rush to make it. A 7.5 to 1 payout would be nice, but there are much better bets to make when playing craps online or in a brick-and-mortar casino.

The Wildest Bets in Craps – A Summary

If you feel like I did the first time I left the craps table in Vegas – bewildered and slightly worried about whether or not you’ll ever understand craps – let go of that tension in your shoulders and relax! We’ve all been there, and I can assure you that this all makes a lot more sense after a few live craps games.

As with most casino games, the best way to learn craps is to play it. You can test some of these wild craps bets out for free by claiming a no deposit bonus or by using a free craps simulator.

Go ahead and try out some of the wild craps bets you’ve learned about here. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend placing large amounts of money on them right away, but they’re fun to make, and if the gods of the odds do decide to make your day, they can quickly boost your bankroll and cause you to hoot, howl, and high-five like the people I saw that night long ago in Vegas.

After a few games, you’ll understand why they say craps is the most exciting game in the casino. Good luck, and remember the number one rule in any casino game – have fun!

Understanding the Craps odds and bets that you can place is vital to ensuring you don’t lose all your money or embarrass yourself in a live game.

You might hear people shouting all types of lingo and vernacular terms such as “Horn Bets” or “Lay 10” which often confuse or put off even the biggest casino degenerates.

Thankfully, the rules of Craps are actually quite simple even if it takes time to learn the jargon. Make sure to read all information on this page, before You play craps for money.

We can predict the odds of any particular number coming up on a roll and why the craps rules are made how you will see.

For example: the odds for you to roll a 4 on your next roll are 11 to 1.

You can figure this out by taking the number of ways a four can be made with two dice (with a one and a three, a pair of twos, or a three and a 1) compared to the number of combinations that two dice can make, which is 36.

So we have a 3 in 36 chance, or 1 in 12 chance that a 4 will come up on any given roll. To express these odds as ‘against’, you would say the odds against rolling a four are 11 to 1 (think of it as 11 non 4’s to one 4 for a total of 12 rolls). The calculation we’ve just done determines the ‘true odds’ of rolling a 4.

As many of you may know, the casino doesn’t like to pay back its players with ‘true odds’, it prefers to alter them.

Craps rules, like so many other casino game rules, pay back odds which guarantee the house a profit in the long run. Say for instance you were to place a bet on ‘any sevens’, meaning you’re betting that the next roll will be a seven.

The odds against hitting a seven on the next roll are 5 to 1 (you can calculate that out the same way we did for 4), which means that if you bet one dollar and win, you deserve to win 5 bucks, but the casinos only pay you 4.

Most bets in most games at the casino have been altered in this way. In fact, this is exactly the phenomenon that gives the casino a house edge in many situations.

We’ve covered all the major types of bets and odds you receive here.

Understanding Craps Odds

For instance, odds can be related either as 2-1 or 2 to 1, where a 1 credit bet returns 2 credits. In other words, 2 to 1 odds returns the original 1 credit bet and a 1 credit profit.

The Best Craps Bets

The best bets in craps are the pass line bet, taking the odds, the don’t pass bar, the come bet, and placing the 6 or the 8. Let’s look at each:

Pass Line

This is the most basic and popular of bets when playing Craps. It has one of the lowest house edges (1.41%) and it is very simple to place. Betting on the pass line bet or betting “with the dice” is the most common bet in craps and you will see many players or shooters choosing it.

A pass line bet requires you to place chips on the “Pass Line” section of the table. If the shooter’s come out roll is a 7 or 11, you win even money (1:1). However, if the come out roll is 2,3 or 12 (craps) you lose.

If any other number is rolled (4,5,6,8,9 or 10) it’s called the point. The shooter continues to throw the dice until he/she roles a 7 or the Point. If the point is rolled first, you win even money. If the 7 is rolled first you lose your bet.

Interestingly, in a game of Crapless Craps, the ability to lose a Pass Line bet to craps on a come out roll is removed – hence the name “crapless” craps. This improves your odds of winning by removing the house edge and increasing your expected value.

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Place Bet In Craps

Don’t Pass Line

What Are The Bets In Craps

You can also bet on the “Don’t Pass” line, which is basically when you are betting or laying the shooter on his first roll. This is simply the opposite of the pass line bet and is also known as betting against the dice.

To make this bet place your chips in the narrower section just beyond the pass line labelled don’t pass.

If the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 (Craps) than you win straight away (1:1 even money). If a 7 or 11 is rolled before the Point is scored you lose. A 12 is considered a Push (draw) and normally you can relinquish this bet.

If any other number is rolled (4,5,6,7,8,9 or 10) this is established on the point number. After this happens you’ll win your money back if a 7 is rolled before the Point number, and lose if a 7 comes first.

Taking the Odds

After the point has been established, you can make an additional bet known as Taking the Odds or Pass Odds. You are betting on the Point number being rolled before a 7. The pay out odds are normally displayed on the Casino craps table.

The odds vary for different numbers based on the likelihood of them being rolled.

Normally, the payouts are as follows:

• 4 pays 2:1
• 5 pays 3:2
• 6 pays 8 pays 6:5
• 9 pays 3:2
• 10 pays 2:1

The odds bet is the best bet you can make in the game of craps, because the house has no built-in advantage. Free odds bets are paid back at true odds, so when you’re making these bets the casino has no house edge whatsoever, it’s an even game!

Come Bet

This is similar to a Pass Line bet, but it is made after the point has been established (dealer button is ON). The next roll then becomes the Come Out roll for your bet and establishes your Point. The payout depends on the Point:

• 7 or 11 pays 1:1 (also known as a Natural)
• 2, 3, or 12 you lose your money (also known as Craps)
• If neither of the above is rolled then (4,5,6,8,9 or 10) becomes the point for your bet. If a 7 comes before your point is rolled again you lose. If your point is won however your payout depends on the Point.

Come Bet Payouts:

Taking the Odds

This is similar to the Come Bet and has the same odds above (Come Odds). You can place this bet only after the point has been established. If the 7 is rolled before the point, you lose.

Laying the Odds

Opposite of Taking the Odds. This is a Don’t Pass Line bet which can be made only after the point has been established. If a 7 is rolled before the point, you win.

Laying the Odds Payout:

Don’t Come Bet

Oppose of Come Bet. This is similar to a Don’t Pass Line bet, but it is made after the Come Out roll. To make this bet all you need to do is to put your chips in the area labeled “Don’t Come” on the layout. You lose on a 7 or 11, and win on a 2 or 3. 12 is a “stand-off.”

Here you win if 7 rolls before your “come-point” is repeated, and lose if the “come-point” is made before a 7 is rolled.

Place Bets

You can bet on specific point numbers. If your number is rolled before a 7, you win. If a 7 comes before your point number, you lose. You’re paid out according to the table below.

Place Bets Payout:

Placing the 6 or 8

When you make a place bet you bet that one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will be hit before a 7 is hit. You can make a place bet any time by throwing your chips on the table while telling the dealer ‘I want to place the 6’ or whatever number you want to place your bet for.

So, if the number you bet on is rolled before a 7 you win and you are paid as follows: 4 or 10 placed – 9:5 odds, 5 or 9 placed – 7:5 odds, 6 or 8 placed – 7:6 odds.

As you can see the best for you is to place a bet on 6 or 8, because these bets have the best odds and also they have a good chance of hitting.

If you get the feeling like you want to place the 4 or 10, you should buy them instead, because although there is a Vig (a fee for winning bets) on these numbers, the edge comes out in your favor, however slightly.

However, the pass line bet is still the best one with the best odds and in the long run you should stick with it.

Although you can technically place a place bet at any time, it is impossible for it to come into effect until the shooters point is set, therefore it is more acceptable to ask for this bet after the come out roll is over.

Craps table

Bets with Poor Craps Odds

Big 6/Big 8 Bet

This is a Bet on a Big 6 or Big 8, put down after the point has been established. If a 6 or 8 is rolled before a 7, you win (1:1). This is a bet that you should not play because you can Place a bet on 6 or 8 and receive better odds.

Field Bets

Kind of what the name suggests, field bets are open to everyone who bets on the next number rolled. To place one you simple throw your chips into the table (as little chips as possible) and tell the stick man what you want. The payout for field bets:

• 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 all payout 1:1
• 2 pays 2:1
• 12 pays out either 2:1 or 3:1 (depending on the casino)

Proposition Bets

Placed before any throw. The house edge on all of these bets are over 11%. Therefore, you should not bet these very often or you should hedge your bets when you do so.

You can bet on any number as follows:

• Betting on the next throwbeing a 2, 3 or 12 (Craps)
• Any Seven: Betting on the next throw being a 7
• Eleven: Betting on the next throw being an 11
• Horn Bet: Betting on the next number being a 2, 3, 11, or 12. The payout is determined by the number rolled

Proposition bets are those placed in the middle of the table layout, and those bets never have a good house edge. You should make these bets only for fun and to make your game more exciting.

So, here they are:

• With the “any seven” bet you’re betting the shooter will hit a 7 on the next roll. It has a horrible house edge of 16.67%. Never make this bet.
• With the “snake eyes” bet you’re betting the shooter will throw a two on the next roll.
• With the “yo eleven” bet you’re betting the shooter will hit an 11 on the next roll.
• With the “any craps” bet you’re betting the shooter will throw a 2, 3, or 12 on the next roll. It holds a house edge of over 11%
• With the “any three” bet you’re betting the shooter will throw a 3 on the next roll.
• With the “midnight” bet you’re betting the shooter will throw a 12 on the next roll.
• With the “horn” bet you’re combining the snake eyes, 3, yo 11, and midnight bets.

Hardway Bets

A Hardway Bet is also made regarding the outcome of the next die throw. A Hardway roll occurs when doubles are thrown with an outcome of 4, 6, 8 or 10.

For example: rolling a pair of threes would produce a “hard 6”. An Easy roll is produced when the same outcome is achieved, but without rolling doubles.

For the previous example, rolling a 4 and a 2 would produce an “easy 6”. For a Hardway Bet to win, the shooter must roll a double with an outcome of 4, 6, 8 or 10. The wager loses if either a 7 or any Easy number is rolled.

The Lay Bet

The lay bet is almost similar with the don’t pass and don’t come bets, because with this bet your are playing against the dice. You can make this bet at any time in the game and it can be placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. A lay bet wins when 7 rolls before the number.

7 is more likely to come up than any other number so the casino requires you to wager more than you could win. This bet also requires a commission of 5% on average. If the bet is on 4 or 10 you get 1:2 odds, on 5 or 9 2:3 odds, on six or 8 5:6 odds.

The Buy Bet

When you choose this bet it means that you will buy numbers instead of placing them.

The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 can all be bought but there are only two numbers that really make buy bets worthwhile and those numbers are 4 and 10 because they pay off better than the other numbers. You win if the buy number comes up before a 7 is rolled.

The odds are higher for a buy bet. 2:1 on a 4 or 10 buy, 3:2 for a 5 or 9, or 6:5 for a 6 or 8. Player pays 5% “vigorish” to get true odds on all numbers.

Depending on how much you bet, buying a bet can make you more money in the end even after accounting for the ‘vig’. The odds are only in your favor on a buy bet for a 4 or 10, so stick with the place bet on any others.

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